Build the Ground Zero Mosque!

Build the Ground Zero Mosque!
By Ronnie dixon

If you turn on the news, you’d more than likely get story after story regarding the Ground Zero “mosque.” I would like to address it myself in this article.

First off, this is not technically a “mosque”. This is a community center a couple of blocks away from Ground Zero that has many floors, with a floor or two devoted to prayer. But that, in my mind, is irrelevant. Let us assume that this is a mosque. Why does it matter? Here is my answer: it doesn’t.

The right-wing Islamophobes, and the ones that were brainwashed by the right-wing, have radical Islamic people and regular Islamic people mixed around. You see, most people of the Muslim faith would not want to bomb a building. Most are peaceful, just like how most Christians are. But, like in all religions, there are fringes that resort to violence to accomplish their goals, while justifying it with their religion. Like how radical Christians are willing to blow up an abortion clinic, radical Muslims are willing to blow up a building, in exchange for their 72 virgins.

So why is this story a big deal? It shouldn’t be. It is not like the community center is being built as a victory symbol for the actions of 9/11. And besides, religions don’t kill people…people kill people.

So this community center made news back in December of 2009, but it wasn’t that big of a story. In fact, I didn’t even know about it till just recently! The New York Times did a segment on it, and it was also on “The O’Reilly Factor,” with Laura Ingraham sitting in for Bill O’Reilly. In fact, Ingraham, a conservative, actually had a great discussion with Daisy Khan, a co-founder of Park 51, the name of the community center, about this topic. Here is what she said at the end of the interview:

“ I like what you’re trying to do and Ms. Khan we appreciate it and come on my radio show some time.”

But now, let us fast forward to earlier this month, when Ingraham appeared on ABC’s “Good Morning America” to talk about the Ground Zero “Mosque”. Let us hear what she had to say:

“I think the legitimate question to ask George is why? Why do they want to build a $100 million 15-story mosque, Islamic center, why there?”

Well, if you would have paid attention to your own interview that you conducted a half a year ago with a co-founder of the community center, you would have gotten the answer. She said that she wanted to promote peaceful Islam and try to wipe the radical stereotype out of the way, and replace it with a peaceful, tolerant message, the one that most Muslims have.

Once again, conservative ignorance.

But what was the catalyst behind this story’s promulgation? Well, that was done by a conservative blogger and right-wing Islamophobe named Pamela Geller. Geller’s group, Stop the Islamization of America, has promoted Islamophobic messages about Muslims and the Islamic faith. Once she began blogging about it, it was picked up by the mainstream. And one can imagine reliable news sources, like CNN, copying a distorted story from Fox “News,” right? It happened with the Sherry Sherrod controversy, and it more than likely happened here to, in between Geller’s blogging, and the mainstream “reporting”.
 
But why is the right-wing making this story so big now? Why have they brainwashed a majority of Americans into believing that it is disrespectful to build a community center a few blocks away from Ground Zero? Well, not only does it fit in with the Islamophobia that is palpable on the right, but it is also very good for cheap political gain, which will be very helpful for a party that has delayed progress in almost every way imaginable.

So is this just happening in New York City? Let us turn to the genius Laura Ingraham for the answer:

“…Nobody is protesting it around the country, building mosques and big sit-ins at mosques…”

Is she right? Nope. Here is an excerpt from a “New York Times” article:

“In Murfreesboro, Tenn., Republican candidates have denounced plans for a large Muslim center proposed near a subdivision, and hundreds of protesters have turned out for a march and a county meeting.

In late June, in Temecula, Calif., members of a local Tea Party group took dogs and picket signs to Friday prayers at a mosque that is seeking to build a new worship center on a vacant lot nearby.

In Sheboygan, Wis., a few Christian ministers led a noisy fight against a Muslim group that sought permission to open a mosque in a former health food store bought by a Muslim doctor.”

As these three examples show, this is not just a problem that New York faces. This is a problem that the United States faces. The only difference in New York is that those that don’t support the community center have a Ground Zero to hide their bigotry and their misunderstandings of the Islamic religion.

And the anger surrounding this issue is very misplaced. Why are they mad at peaceful Muslims when they should be mad at Republicans who voted against giving health benefits to first responders of 9/11, as I covered in my video “Rep. Anthony Weiner: A Progressive with Balls,” or how about at President Bush II, who knew about the attack before going on vacation in August, as I covered in my video “Did President Bush Cause 9/11?”? And I can guarantee you that most of these people who don’t support the community center are oblivious to the fact that the Pentagon, a key target of the radicals, had, and still has, a freakin’ mosque!

So when looking at all the facts, after examining the Constitution, the document that many Tea-Partiers claim to have read, and clearing ones head of any religious bias and looking at the issue rationally, a sane person will conclude that the community center should be built, despite the growing opposition towards it.

About The Author

Well, Im an overall laid back individual, intelligent, very artistic, creative, idealistic....I have a strong passion for creating. Just trying to create a better environment for my son.